Chair-seat and method of making it.



' No.-7I4,730. Patented Dec. 2', I902,

H. ahmoams. cum SE'AT AND METHOD 0 MAKING IT.

(No Model.)

a lilm rllllli' NITED STATES PATENT trips.

HENRY B. MORRIS, OF MICHIGAN CITY, INDIANA.

CHAIR-SEAT AND METHOD OF MAKING IT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 714,730, dated December2, 1902.

Original application filed May 3, 1902, Serial No. 105,852. Divided andthis application filed June 30, 1902. Serial No.1l3,793. (No model.)

T0 at whom it may concern:

Be itknown thatI, HENRY MORRIS, acitizen of the United States. residingat Michigan City, in the county of Laporte and State of Indiana, haveinvented certain new and use-.

ful Improvements in Chair-Seats and in the Methods of Making Same, ofwhich the following is a specification.

In my United States Patent No. 672,102 of April 16, 1901, I havedescribed a method of making chair-seats designed to resemble thewell-known flag or rush seats, which consists in covering a seat-framewith a twisted or spun colored paper cord of indefinite length, thentreating the paper seat thus formed with Waterproofing material, andafter smoothing down the waterproofed seat by rubbing it with sandpaperapplying a finishing-varnish. I also describe in said patent a wayofpacking the seat by means of pads which were introduced between thelayers of paper cord.

My present invention relates to certain improvements in the methoddescribed in my above-mentioned patent.

I have found that instead of placing previously-formedpacking-pads ofuniform size between the layers of the covering better .results areobtained by stufling loose packing material into the spaces between thelayers of the covering in varying quantities, as occasion may require. Ihave also found that the seat may be improved by inserting pieces ofveneer, pasteboard, or the like between the layers of the fabrioin suchmanner as to hold the upper layer firmly and smoothly, the individualstrands lying evenly and notbeing liable to be pressed down below acommon level. J

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 shows how a strip of coloredpaper is twisted or spun into a cord of suitable kind. Fig. 2 is a planview of a chair-seat frame with a number of strands of paper cordapplied to prepare the frame for the main winding. Fig.

3 is a top plan View of a chair-seat partially formed, the-manner ofwinding the continuous cord being indicated by the loose turns of thecord. This figure also indicates the manner of inserting the pieces ofveneer. Fig. 4

is a bottom plan view similar to Fig. 3, indicating the manner ofinserting the packing material. Fig. 5 is a detail view in section,

showing the particular manner of arranging the pieces of veneer and thepacking material between the layers of the paper cord. Fig. 6 is a view,on a reduced scale, of the completed Seal].

The paper cord A may be formed in precisely the same manner as thatdescribed in my before-mentioned patent, though I of course do notherein limit myself to the precise method therein described. wound uponthe seat-frame B before being varnished, and preferably it is moistenedor dampened before being wound, because the strands are thus made to liemore closely together and will flatten down to a more desir able extentwhere they cross each other, and thus produce a more compact fabric.

When the seat-frame is wider at the front than at the rear, as indicatedin Fig. 2,. afew strands of the cord are wound .upon' it and secured inthe manner indicated in Fig. 2 and as fully illustrated and described inmy former patent. The main windingof the cord is proceeded with in thesame manner as that described in said patent and as indicated in Fig. 3.After a few strands of the cord have been wound on the frame pieces ofveneer O, which are preferably triangularin outline, are arranged in theframe. Gardboard or other material similar to veneer may be used; but Ifind thin pieces of wood to be the best. The veneer is insertedpreferably between the upper and middle layers of the windings, theopposite corners of the triangular pieces being held by the few windingsof the cord While the winding is proceeded with. When the winding of thecord has progressed to a considerable extent, I insert packing materialin the mannerindicated in Fig. 4:. In my former patent pads of packingmaterial were inserted. These were of uniform size, and it was foundthat the pads did not always pack tightly and did not put the cordsunder sufficient tension and cause the surface of the paper windings tocurve or round out to the proper extent. According to my presentimprovements when the winding has progressed to the extent shown in Fig.4 pieces of paper P are inserted between the lower and middle layers ofthe paper The cord is winding, and then excelsior or similar material pis introduced. A single layer of paper may be employed, which should lienext to the bottom layer of the paper winding,'the main purpose of thepaper being to prevent the excelsior or other packing material fromsifting through the under side of the seat. Preferably, however, Iemploy two thicknesses of paper forming an open pocket, such asillustratedin Fig. 5, and stuff the packing material between the layers.By usinga suitable tool F the excelsior may be stuffed into the cornersand around the edges in such manner as to round out the windings and putthe cords under tension, causing them to lie close together andpreventing them from bending laterally or separating from each other.Mostall of the packing material may be inserted when the seat is in thecondition shown in Fig. 4:. The winding may then be proceeded with, andjust before the last two or three windings are applied more packingmaterial may be inserted, if desired. When the winding is completed, theseat will be composed of the frame completely covered by the windings ofpaper cord, excepting at the corners at. There will be triangular piecesof veneer between the upper and middle layers of the cord and packingmaterial between the bottom and middle layers. This construction isclearly indicated in Fig. 5. The pieces of veneer serve to hold thestrands evenly while the seat is in use, preventing a small number ofstrands being depressed below the common level by pressure applied to afewof them.

After the frame of the seat or back is wound in the manner abovedescribed it is varnished and polished, preferably in the mannerdescribed in my application for patent, Serial No. 105,852, filed May 3,1902, of which the present application is a division.

So far as part of the invention is concerned other material than papermay be employed.

I claim as my invention- 1. The method, substantially as hereindescribed, which consists in partially covering a chair-seat frame withstrands of fibrous material to form upper and lower layers, insertingpieces of strengthening material between the layers, then contin ningthe winding of the frame, then inserting pieces of paper and packingmaterial between the layers of the fabric, and forcing it into place insuch manner as to put the strands under tension, and then completing thewinding on the frame.

2. The method, substantially as herein described, which consists inpartially covering a chair-seat frame with strands of paper to formupper, lower. and middle layers, inserting pieces of thin strengtheningmaterial between the upper and middle layers, then continuing thewinding, then stuffing packing material between the lower and middlelayers of the fabric, thus putting the strands under tension, and thencompleting the winding.

3. Achair-seat comprisingaframe, covered by strands of fibrous materialforming upper and lower layers, sheets of thin strengthening materialinterposed between the layers, and pieces of paper and packing materialalso interposed between the layers of the fabric for the purposespecified.

4. A chair-seat comprising a frame, a covering therefor consisting ofstrands of fibrous material wound on the frame to form three layers offabric, triangular pieces of veneer interposed between the upper andmiddle layers of the fabric, and pieces of paper and packing materialinterposed between the middle and lower layers.

5. A chair-seat comprising a frame wound with twisted-paper cord,forming three layers,

pieces of veneer interposed between the upper and middle layers, andpacking material interposed between the middle and lower layers andserving to put the strands under tension, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name. I

. HENRY B. MORRIS. Witnesses:

ARTHUR N. Grr'rmes, ARTHUR D. MOBURNEY.

